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Posts: 121
| Just curious what your feelings would be on a slot being tried on the Mississippi River like they have done on the Fox River and lower pools of the river?
I'd personally like to see a four fish walleye limit of (16"-19"), and then one over 28". I bet in very little time we would have a trophy fishery on Pools 4-10 much like Green Bay. This would really protect the females from overharvest in spring.
What are your thoughts?  |
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Member
Posts: 625
Location: LaCrosse, WI | I've been a huge proponent of a slot on the Mississippi for years. I'd love to see 15"-19" and one over 28". I'd also love to see a size limit on Saugers. I want to puke every time I see 10" Saugers yanked out of 40+ feet of water. |
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Location: Chicago IL. | We have GREAT results with it on the lower pools. I would only take 5 years in my eyes to really make a impact. Size limit on saugers is a must have also. Also I dont think they should open up the dams in the winter. |
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| I would have to agree with the slot also! Down here in pool 12, some days my best five fish weigh 20 to 30lbs as a result of the slot. If the northern pools had some kind of SLOT, I think it would be UNBELIVABLE. |
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Posts: 121
| I think a test pool such as 9 would be pretty impressive. I know these fish travel significant distance during the spring spawn, but also from the telemetry studies I have read some fish do stay pool specific. If the National Fish Hatchery had this to assist in capturing the eggs for most of stocking for Northern WI it would be a win-win for all walleye fishermen on the river and with increased fry for the northern lakes as well. The river strain of fish are strong and adapt well to river or lake environments, thus why they use fish from here. Obviously taking these eggs would only be done if the fishery biologists felt the pool couldn't sustain the impact of harvesting walleye eggs to rear for fry year to year.
It seems the way the fishies are watched in the lakes in Northern Minnesota are far different than those in nearby Wisconsin. I wonder if it would take an act of Congress to actually have the WI DNR to consider doing a trial test on one or multiple northern Mississippi River Pools?
Can you imagine the trophy fishery we could have in just a handful of years? WOW! Still makes fish available for a meal now and then, and increases the chance of taking a trophy of a lifetime... sure seems like a no brainer to me???
Imagine having toad 4# saugers common like on the Illinois River here... wouldn't that be a gas! Maybe a few more predator Walleyes & Saugers would keep the bass and panfish exploding numbers more in check too.
Edited by MMWS Director 3/31/2011 11:34 AM
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Posts: 1188
Location: Chicago IL. | Dale , it sure is nice when you see a guy catch a 5lbr and he just thrilled to death because it his biggest walleye to date. Even better when they let them go. It`s fun to teach people to fish like that. We get our share of eaters also. Alot of it depends on management of the pool from the dnr. Like you said, it make sense but i`m sure there is more to the story from the managers at the dnr. I would like to see some studies about the slot program in the lower pools. (before and after) |
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Posts: 1991
| I would be in favor of a slot limit on the Mississippi river, pools 3 and 4 would be rockin
Edited by KHedquist 4/1/2011 5:43 AM
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Posts: 121
| This has got pretty heated up as a discussion... not that I am wanting to redirect you from here, but you may find this feedback and heated discussion quite interesting here...
http://www.idofishing.com/forum/showflat.php/Number/996571/fpart/1/...
Be sure to take part in the poll.
Take a look, and post back here what you think...  |
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| We have had the slot in Dubuque for about 6 or 7 years now and I am telling you if you want to preserve your fishery then go to the meetings and do whatever it takes to get it done. It is awesome to know that at any given time you can go out and have a chance at a 10lbs plus Walleye! Slot limits and reduced bag limits are going to ensure great fishing for generations to come!! Good luck!!! |
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Posts: 105
| Thread is closed to posting Dale.
So I will post my thought here. Close the river below the dam's to the nearest land mark from March 1 - April 21. Allow the majority or those that do spawn by the dams to do just that with out being caught. Heck, Canada protects all its spawning waters, why not state side. We do it at the spillways or Onlaska spillway. Dresbach, why not close it down to the I-90 bridge in the spring. Why not close Genoa to the Highlines in the spring? Then those females have a chance to spawn up there and start moving back down prior to opening the season up near the dams.
Just a thought.
But I am in favor of a slot big time!! I am also in favor of the DNR watching the dams more frequently to nab those double bagging sunsobitches!! Nothing worse than that!! Launch in Iowa and catch your limit take them home and come out agian at a wisconsin launch. It happens dont kid yourself. Best thing is a slot!
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Location: Chicago IL. | I will 2nd that on the double baggers. They are out on the IL. River also. Really bad on Lake Mich. with the perch. |
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Posts: 121
| I guess after 80 posts IDO cuts things off. I did find it interesting that of the 415 anglers who posted 55% (230) are in favor of a change and only 44% (185) wanted things left alone. This was in less than a weeks time. I would REALLY hope that someone / anyone from the DNR in the fisheries department would look at the great amount of interest in this topic and at least entertain if the idea needs more exploration.
I really think investing in the future of our fishery today could make long term impacts for future generations. Not to mention the dramatic posititive economic impacts this would provide to businesses up and down the river. If you want a comparison ask Motels and Restraunts in DePeare (Green Bay) if the spring run means more business for them. I am certain this influx in spring business right now is very welcome to them. Unfortunately, the way it is currently set up, it leaves the resource vulnerable to a few anglers who can dramatically influence the positive effects of CPR and C&R practices so many of the new generation anglers use each time they release a big fish to fight another day. A few uneducated fish mongers right now can ruin the fishery by filleting those 5-10# females... and yes, as much as we hate to admit it, it IS going on and we all are forced to just look the other way due to regulations as they can each legally take six of those home per day each. Evidently they can eat much more for supper in one setting than I can... |
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Walleye Slot Limit on the Mississippi River?